The H5N1 strain of the avian influenza virus has mutated into a form more dangerous to humans and can now be transmitted from person to person. This is the conclusion reached by scientists from Vietnam – the country that has suffered the most from the outbreak of this disease.
Employees of the Center for the Study of Avian Influenza at the Department of Molecular Biology of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City conducted an analysis of 24 virus samples taken from the blood of birds and humans. According to the analysis results, a noticeable antigenic mutation was observed in the samples taken.
At the same time, it is emphasized that the research does not yet prove that the virus will begin to spread easily among humans. Research conducted at the Pasteur Institute confirmed the assumption that the H5N1 virus does not necessarily have to mix with human influenza virus strains to cause a pandemic among humans, as scientists had previously said.
The H5N1 strain, which poses a deadly danger to humans, was first detected in Hong Kong in 1997. At that time, 18 people contracted avian influenza, 6 of whom died. The second outbreak was recorded in 2003 in South Korea. From there, the virus spread to China, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia, and then to Europe. Since then, more than 60 people have died from avian influenza.
Scientists believe that in the event of a worldwide avian influenza epidemic, 20% of the entire population of the planet could fall ill, of whom no fewer than 5 million would die. According to World Bank data, approximately half a billion dollars will be needed to combat the spread of avian influenza over the next three years.
This assessment was recently presented by World Bank representatives at an international conference in Geneva dedicated to the problem of avian influenza.